here's a little audio comparison i've made for my best freeware parametric EQ plugins article. it turned out rather interesting so i figured i should share it here, too.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3020648/bpb/par ... arison.mp3
the audio file above is in 320bit mp3 format (i can render a lossless version if need be).
all plugins were set to boost 6db at 2kHz with the Q setting matched by ear (approximately 0.5 db/oct on all plugins). here's the order in which different EQs appear:
01. Original loop [0:00 - 0:08]
02. IIEQ [0:08 - 0:16]
03. Electri-Q [0:16 - 0:24]
04. AQ1 [0:24 - 0:32]
05. ReaEQ [0:32 - 0:40]
06. EasyQ [0:40 - 0:48]
07. Solid4010 [0:48 - 0:56]
08. MEqualizer [0:56 - 1:04]
09. BootEQ [1:04 - 1:12]
10. SonEQ [1:12 - 1:20]
11. PushTec 5+1A [1:20 - 1:28]
probably not the most useful comparison in the world but it was interesting for me to test these plugins and see which ones i like most. so far, my favorites are BootEQ and IIEQ.
btw, there's no poll, the issue of what sounds best is highly subjective imho and the comparison is here just for fun and convenience (and it was quite educational for me).
would love to see what others think and hopefully some suggestions to improve the comparison.
freeware parametric EQ comparison
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- KVRAF
- 1706 posts since 22 Apr, 2009 from Belgrade
Bedroom Producers Blog << Free VST Plugins!
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- KVRAF
- 2973 posts since 10 Sep, 2003 from Karlskoga, Stockholm, Sweden
Solid4010 jumped out a bit .. but that must be to a boost in (perceived) db?
It made the three after sound thinny in my ears, maybe my ears had adjusted themselves back for the last eq.
All i can comment on is the difference of the sound. What's better than the other i can only say in context. But for this one, Solid4010 won my heart. Why is it not in the KvR database o.O?
Good work here, very interesting! I will listen again and again..
It made the three after sound thinny in my ears, maybe my ears had adjusted themselves back for the last eq.
All i can comment on is the difference of the sound. What's better than the other i can only say in context. But for this one, Solid4010 won my heart. Why is it not in the KvR database o.O?
Good work here, very interesting! I will listen again and again..
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- KVRist
- 371 posts since 19 Sep, 2005
Frequency knobs mislabelling play a big role here...On Solid EQ 4010 the reported frequencies are all but precise...Crackbaby wrote:Solid4010 jumped out a bit .. but that must be to a boost in (perceived) db?
It made the three after sound thinny in my ears, maybe my ears had adjusted themselves back for the last eq.
All i can comment on is the difference of the sound. What's better than the other i can only say in context. But for this one, Solid4010 won my heart. Why is it not in the KvR database o.O?
Good work here, very interesting! I will listen again and again..
...VstPluginAnalyzer doesn't lie
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1706 posts since 22 Apr, 2009 from Belgrade
alteregoxxx wrote:On Solid EQ 4010 the reported frequencies are all but precise...
i had no clue!
that's good to know, exactly the kind of stuff i'm looking to learn from this sort of comparisons. apparently my ears have a lot of studying to do!
i'll have another listen when i'm back home.
Bedroom Producers Blog << Free VST Plugins!
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- KVRist
- 283 posts since 12 Jun, 2005
Analyzer curve matching is the key
And when you will do it, you will realize there is not so much differences between all EQs.
Apart, of course, the final drive stage they provide (or not).
Something to read :
http://rhythminmind.net/1313/?p=361
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much- ... ost3522499
As freeware, i use Electri-Q because i can choose between analog/digital behavior and a LOT of types of EQ and curves.
Curves are the key (like with women)
PS : i forgot this splendid article :
http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/201 ... ves-again/
And read the Electri-Q manual too
And when you will do it, you will realize there is not so much differences between all EQs.
Apart, of course, the final drive stage they provide (or not).
Something to read :
http://rhythminmind.net/1313/?p=361
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much- ... ost3522499
As freeware, i use Electri-Q because i can choose between analog/digital behavior and a LOT of types of EQ and curves.
Curves are the key (like with women)
PS : i forgot this splendid article :
http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/201 ... ves-again/
And read the Electri-Q manual too
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1706 posts since 22 Apr, 2009 from Belgrade
it's Electri-Q posihfopit edition.chacka wrote:I don't wanna point my finger but I might have missed something: Electri-Q is freeware now? Or do you mean pohsifopit?
Bedroom Producers Blog << Free VST Plugins!
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1706 posts since 22 Apr, 2009 from Belgrade
thanks for the tips. i've been thinking about this stuff a lot lately and it's exactly why i wanted to compare a number of eqs. my plan is to focus on practicing and improving my eqing and compression skills over the next few months - thus i was really itching to know what exactly are the differences between different eqs.megadeth wrote:Analyzer curve matching is the key
And when you will do it, you will realize there is not so much differences between all EQs.
Apart, of course, the final drive stage they provide (or not).
Something to read :
http://rhythminmind.net/1313/?p=361
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much- ... ost3522499
As freeware, i use Electri-Q because i can choose between analog/digital behavior and a LOT of types of EQ and curves.
Curves are the key (like with women)
PS : i forgot this splendid article :
http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/201 ... ves-again/
And read the Electri-Q manual too
i'll read those articles and i've read the rhythminmind one before - it's very interesting.
Bedroom Producers Blog << Free VST Plugins!
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- KVRAF
- 2973 posts since 10 Sep, 2003 from Karlskoga, Stockholm, Sweden
are you the guy behind bedroomsproducersblog?
If so i would like to thank you for that awesome website!!!
I love the Freeware Studio series!
About the EQ test. I believe that the layout of an EQ also has a big role in how it sounds. Seriously
Knobs or sliders. Size of certain knobs. If a knob is smaller, it's harder to access it and it's more likely you will not change it.
How much feedback is visible? Can you see exact values? These things will affect us when turning the knobs. For instance, i know that human brain focuses on frequencies around kHz. So it will be hard not to think of this when tweaking an eq if i can see the "kHz" label.
This is from a psychological point of view ofc and some may not be affected by psychology ... or?
Imagine this:
Two non related companies releases an eq each with identical engines. Only the GUI is different - will people think they sound the same? (in a test where they try to mix a track or similar)
If so i would like to thank you for that awesome website!!!
I love the Freeware Studio series!
About the EQ test. I believe that the layout of an EQ also has a big role in how it sounds. Seriously
Knobs or sliders. Size of certain knobs. If a knob is smaller, it's harder to access it and it's more likely you will not change it.
How much feedback is visible? Can you see exact values? These things will affect us when turning the knobs. For instance, i know that human brain focuses on frequencies around kHz. So it will be hard not to think of this when tweaking an eq if i can see the "kHz" label.
This is from a psychological point of view ofc and some may not be affected by psychology ... or?
Imagine this:
Two non related companies releases an eq each with identical engines. Only the GUI is different - will people think they sound the same? (in a test where they try to mix a track or similar)
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- KVRAF
- 2097 posts since 8 Feb, 2003 from Nearish Detroit, MI
Crackbaby wrote:are you the guy behind bedroomsproducersblog?
If so i would like to thank you for that awesome website!!!
I love the Freeware Studio series!
+1000! It is a great blog and the freeware studio series is fantastic!
GLHF! (Gandalf Lives, Hobbits Forever!)
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1706 posts since 22 Apr, 2009 from Belgrade
yes, that's me. thanks for the kind words guys! :]
i enjoy writing about affordable music production tools and hopefully others find some of that stuff useful too.
anyway, i agree with some of your points Crackbaby, and the example of two same eqs with different GUIs is quite interesting.
it's one of the skills i'd like to improve - critical listening. i still haven't reached the level of confidence where i could be 100% sure that two eqs would actually sound the same. i mean i'd probably say they're quite same-ish, but would probably think - damn, what if there's some difference i can't hear.
anyway, i really enjoy composing and mixing music but i think i've reached the point where i need to take things to a higher level. i spend almost too much time on all of this for an amateur, and in order to justify it i'd like to focus a lot more on practicing and developing my mixing skills and confidence level. important part of which is comparing the tools i have at disposal and learning how they work.
i enjoy writing about affordable music production tools and hopefully others find some of that stuff useful too.
anyway, i agree with some of your points Crackbaby, and the example of two same eqs with different GUIs is quite interesting.
it's one of the skills i'd like to improve - critical listening. i still haven't reached the level of confidence where i could be 100% sure that two eqs would actually sound the same. i mean i'd probably say they're quite same-ish, but would probably think - damn, what if there's some difference i can't hear.
anyway, i really enjoy composing and mixing music but i think i've reached the point where i need to take things to a higher level. i spend almost too much time on all of this for an amateur, and in order to justify it i'd like to focus a lot more on practicing and developing my mixing skills and confidence level. important part of which is comparing the tools i have at disposal and learning how they work.
Bedroom Producers Blog << Free VST Plugins!
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Music Engineer Music Engineer https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=15959 - KVRAF
- 4386 posts since 8 Mar, 2004 from Berlin, Germany
as was already suggested: don't rely on your ears only - do objective measurements (additionally). christian budde's plugin analyzer is a great tool for measuring the frequency responses of EQs (and other stuff, like harmonic distortion, too). be especially sensitive to aliasing - which is the bane of the digital world (not an issue in filters and EQs though - unless they incorporate saturation). with some training, it can be spotted and pinpointed by listening alone but it can also easily be seen on a spectrum analyzer.bpblog wrote:it's one of the skills i'd like to improve - critical listening. i still haven't reached the level of confidence where i could be 100% sure that two eqs would actually sound the same.
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- KVRAF
- 1888 posts since 13 Aug, 2011 from Berlin
I say no. And that's ok, because many people are not so scientifically minded to check all settings to verify in a ABX test if they will hear a difference or not. I guess that when most people are creating a mix they rather enjoy a good workflow than ultra-precise numerical feedback. As an example, when dialing in a kick drum who cares if the cut at 256Hz needs to be exactly 15,6dB or 15,7dB? Not that precise values are generally unimportant but a nice GUI and a good feeling when moving the knobs/faders/points will go much further for a lot of people.Crackbaby wrote:Imagine this:
Two non related companies releases an eq each with identical engines. Only the GUI is different - will people think they sound the same? (in a test where they try to mix a track or similar)
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- KVRist
- 243 posts since 24 Dec, 2004
I +1 for using christian budde's plugin analyzer to match the curves of different eq's.
I'd also like to suggest adding double precision eq to your testing group
http://www.audioteknikk.net/
cheers
I'd also like to suggest adding double precision eq to your testing group
http://www.audioteknikk.net/
cheers
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Music Engineer Music Engineer https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=15959
- KVRAF
- 4386 posts since 8 Mar, 2004 from Berlin, Germany
as for the "same algorithm, different GUIs" question: i think, these are actually two questions:
1. will people actually dial in different settings when the GUIs are different? (for example without numeric feedback, one is forced to use ears and there's less tendency to dial in exact numbers)
2. will people think that the two equalizers sound different even when the settings (and hence, the output signal) are actually exactly the same, just because of the GUI - like: "hey, that one sounds warmer" (GUI has retro look with wood-panels)
1. will people actually dial in different settings when the GUIs are different? (for example without numeric feedback, one is forced to use ears and there's less tendency to dial in exact numbers)
2. will people think that the two equalizers sound different even when the settings (and hence, the output signal) are actually exactly the same, just because of the GUI - like: "hey, that one sounds warmer" (GUI has retro look with wood-panels)